Table 1

Interview responses of women (n=307)* interviewed in their homes in rural northern Liberia in 2010

CharacteristicValue
Age,* mean years (SD)30.5 (7.5)
Parity,* mean no. (SD)4.8 (3.0)
Education level, no. (%)
 No formal education174 (57.1)
 Some primary114 (37.4)
 Completed primary or greater17 (5.6)
Relationship status, no. (%)
 Married223 (72.6)
 Unmarried84 (27.4)
Lost a child during prior pregnancy, no. (%)
 Yes113 (37.0)
 No192 (63.0)
Site of delivery in immediate prior pregnancy, no. (%)†
 Hospital47 (16.8)
 Home with traditional midwife (TM)210 (75.0)
 Home without TM23 (8.2)
Why did you choose to deliver your child in this place?†
 Home, no. (%)
 ‘Cost’ or ‘Difficulty with transport’69 (31.5)
 ‘Quick onset of labour’67 (30.6)
 ‘Family tradition’ or ‘Religion’37 (16.9)
 ‘TM is safe’37 (16.9)
 ‘Conflict’ or ‘Flooding’8 (3.7)
Hospital, no. (%)
 ‘Labour complications at home’26 (57.8)
 ‘Hospital nearby’6 (13.3)
 ‘Antenatal referral’5 (11.1)
 ‘Hospital is safer’5 (11.1)
 ‘Previous caesarean delivery’3 (6.7)
  • *Totals may not add to 307 due to missing values. 280 respondents reported age. 305 respondents reported parity.

  • †N=280 excluding nulliparous women.